QKD system with fast active optical path length compensation

We develop a quantum key distribution (QKD) system with fast active optical path length compensation. A rapid and reliable active optical path length compensation scheme is proposed and applied to a plug-and-play QKD system. The system monitors changes in key rates and controls it is own operation automatically. The system achieves its optimal performance within three seconds of operation, which includes a sifted key rate of 5.5 kbps and a quantum bit error rate of less than 2% after an abrupt temperature variation along the 25 km quantum channel. The system also operates well over a 24 h period while completing more than 60 active optical path length compensations.     

Mesoscopic quantum coherence in an optical lattice

We observe the quantum coherent dynamics of atomic spinor wave packets in the double-well potentials of a far-off-resonance optical lattice. With appropriate initial conditions the system Rabi oscillates between the left and right localized states of the ground doublet, and at certain times the wave packet corresponds to a coherent superposition of these mesoscopically distinct quantum states. The atom/optical double-well potential is a flexible and powerful system for further study of quantum coherence, quantum control, and the quantum/classical transition.     

Perfect Optical Nonreciprocity with Mechanical Driving in a Three-Mode Optomechanical System *

Nonreciprocal devices are indispensable for building quantum networks and ubiquitous in modern communication technology. Here, we study perfect optical nonreciprocity in a three-mode optomechanical system with mechanical driving.The scheme relies on the interference between optomechanical interaction and mechanical driving. We find perfect optical nonreciprocity can be achieved even though nonreciprocal phase difference is zero if we drive the system by a mechanical driving with a nonzero phase. We obtain the essential conditions for perfectoptical nonreciprocity and analyze properties of the optical nonreciprocal transmission. These results can be used to control optical transmission in quantum information processing.      

Strong optical field study of a single self-assembled quantum dot

We review the investigation of a single quantum dot driven by a strong optical field. By coherent pump-probe spectroscopy, we demonstrate the Autler–Townes splitting and Mollow absorption spectrum in a single neutral quantum dot. Furthermore, we also show the typical Mollow absorption spectrum by driving a singly charged quantum dot in a strong optical coupling regime. Our results show all the typical features of an isolated atomic system driven by a strong optical field, such as the AC stark effect, Rabi side bands and optical gain effect, which indicate that both neutral and charged quantum dots maintain the discrete energy level states even at high optical field strengths.     

Optical stark effect and dressed exciton states in a Mn-doped CdTe quantum dot

We report on the observation of spin-dependent optically dressed states and the optical Stark effect on an individual Mn spin in a semiconductor quantum dot. The vacuum-to-exciton or the exciton-to-biexciton transitions in a Mn-doped quantum dot are optically dressed by a strong laser field, and the resulting spectral signature is measured in photoluminescence. We demonstrate that the energy of any spin state of a Mn atom can be independently tuned by using the optical Stark effect induced by a control laser. High resolution spectroscopy reveals a power-, polarization-, and detuning-dependent Autler-Townes splitting of each optical transition of the Mn-doped quantum dot. This experiment demonstrates an optical resonant control of the exciton-Mn system.     

Influences of control coherence and decay coherence on optical bistability in a semiconductor quantum well

We discuss the influences of two different types of mechanisms of quantum coherence on optical bistability in a semiconductor quantum well structure.In the first mechanism,only quantum coherence induced by the resonant coupling of a strong control laser is considered.In the second mechanism,the decay coherence is taken into account under the condition where the control field is weak.In two different cases,optical bistability can be obtained through choosing appropriate physical parameters.Our studies show quantum coherence makes the optical nonlinear effect of the system become stronger,which takes an important role in the process of generating optical bistability.A semiconductor quantum well with flexibility and easy integration in design could potentially be exploited in real solid-state devices.     

Universality of quantum critical dynamics in a planar optical parametric oscillator

We analyze the critical quantum fluctuations in a coherently driven planar optical parametric oscillator. We show that the presence of transverse modes combined with quantum fluctuations changes the behavior of the "quantum image" critical point. This zero-temperature nonequilibrium quantum system has the same universality class as a finite-temperature magnetic Lifshitz transition.     

Exploiting quantum parallelism to simulate quantum random many-body systems

We present an algorithm that exploits quantum parallelism to simulate randomness in a quantum system. In our scheme, all possible realizations of the random parameters are encoded quantum mechanically in a superposition state of an auxiliary system. We show how our algorithm allows for the efficient simulation of dynamics of quantum random spin chains with known numerical methods. We propose an experimental realization based on atoms in optical lattices in which disorder could be simulated in parallel and in a controlled way through the interaction with another atomic species.     

A simultaneous generation of QKD and QDC via optical memory array for distributed network security

We propose a novel system of a simultaneous generation of continuous variable quantum key distribution (QKD) and quantum dense coding (QDC) via an optical memory array. The optical memory system is formed by using an array waveguide incorporating a nano-ring resonator, whereas the different spatial light modes can be generated and stored within an optical memory unit. The polarized photon is formed and stored within a storing device, i.e. a ring resonator, whereas the different time slot entangled photons can be generated, transmitted and detected by the different subscriber in the distributed networks. By using the optical memory concept, the continuous variable quantum key distribution is provided. Furthermore, the use of quantum dense coding via time division multiplexing paths, i.e. different time slot, is also plausible. The advantage of the proposed system is that the quantum key distribution can provide the network top security with high capacity and safety, which is the large demand of usage in the public networks.     

Reversible waveform conversion between microwave and optical fields in a hybrid opto-electromechanical system

We present a scheme of reversible waveform conversion between microwave and optical fields in the hybrid opto-electromechanical system. As an intermediate interface, nanomechanical resonator optomechanically couples both optomechanical cavities in the optical and microwave frequency domains. We find the double-optomechanically induced transparency and achieve coherent signal waveform bi-directional transfer between microwave and optical fields based on quantum interference. In addition, we give an analytical expression of one-to-one correspondence between the microwave field and the optical output field, which intuitively shows the reversible waveform conversion relationship. In particular, by numerical simulations and approximate expression, we demonstrate the conversion effects of the three waveforms and discuss the bi-directional conversion efficiency and the bandwidth. such a hybrid opto- and electro-mechanical device has significant potential functions for electro-optic modulation and waveform conversion of quantum microwave-optical field in optical communications and further quantum networks.     

Optical characterization of quantum dots entrained in microstructured optical fibers

We present a study of the basic optical properties of colloidal CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots entrained in a microstructured optical fiber. Quantum dots suspended in heptane were pulled into the holes surrounding the solid core of a microstructured optical fiber of the holey fiber class via capillary action and are found to remain in the fiber. In this experiment, a laser coupled into the fiber photoexcited quantum dots along the length of the fiber. Quantum dot emission was observed to couple into the fiber core and propagate along the fiber. To investigate the use of such a system in fiber-based light generation or amplification, a second laser overlapping the low-energy portion of the quantum dot emission was simultaneously coupled into the fiber. We observed apparent amplification of this light when photoexciting the quantum dots well above their bandedge.     

Quantum Memory with Natural Inhomogeneous Broadening in an Optical Cavity

We propose an efficient quantum memory scheme with natural inhomogeneous broadening in an asymmetric optical cavity. The scheme uses the strong rephasing pulses like traditional photon echo techniques rather than spectral holeburning, which enables us to have the potential implementation in a much broader range of material systems. In the condition of impedance matching to an optical cavity, we find that the input light pulse can be completely absorbed by an atomic ensemble. We also show that the quantum memory efficiency can be equal to unity even for a small optical depth of the atomic system.     

Quantum Tunneling of a Dipolar Bose-Einstein Condensate in Optical Lattice

We study quantum tunneling of a dipolar Bose-Einstein condensate in optical lattice when the spin system initially is prepared in a squeezed coherent state. It is found that there exists quantum tunneling between lattices l and l ＋ 1, l and l - 1, respectively. In particular, when the optical lattice is infinitely long and the spin excitations are in the long-wavelength limit, quantum tunneling disappears between lattices l and l ＋ 1, and that l and l - 1. Correspondingly, the magnetic soliton appears.     

Quantum encoding based on optical phase states and mutually unbiased bases in the presence of several eavesdroppers

We investigate quantum key distribution where information is carried by a d-level optical quantum system. The sender uses the mutually unbiased bases generated from the phase states of the quantum system. We consider the effects of several intercept and resend attacks. We derive explicitly the mutual information between the legitimate parties as well as the mutual information between the sender and the different eavesdroppers in the communication channel. We discuss the security of the cryptographic scheme and present some numerical analysis.     

Trapping of ultracold atoms in a 3He/4He dilution refrigerator

We describe the preparation of ultracold atomic clouds in a dilution refrigerator. The closed-cycle ³He/⁴He cryostat was custom made to provide optical access for laser cooling, optical manipulation and detection of atoms. We show that the cryostat meets the requirements for cold atom experiments, specifically in terms of operating a magneto-optical trap, magnetic traps and magnetic transport under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. The presented system is a step toward the creation of a quantum hybrid system combining ultracold atoms and solid-state quantum devices.     

Vanishing and emerging of absorption quantum beats from electron spin coherence in GaAs quantum wells

We report experimental studies of absorption quantum beats induced by electron spin coherence in GaAs quantum wells. Absorption quantum beats occur for strongly localized excitons, but nearly vanish for mobile excitons in the third order nonlinear optical response. Pronounced quantum beats for mobile excitons emerge in an unusual fifth order process. These results, along with a qualitative analysis based on the use of N-exciton eigenstates, elucidate how the manifestation of electron spin coherence in the excitonic nonlinear optical response can differ fundamentally from that in an atomic system.     

Correspondence between quantum-optical transform and classical-optical transform explored by developing Dirac’s symbolic method

By virtue of the new technique of performing integration over Dirac’s ket–bra operators, we explore quantum optical version of classical optical transformations such as optical Fresnel transform, Hankel transform, fractional Fourier transform, Wigner transform, wavelet transform and Fresnel–Hadmard combinatorial transform etc. In this way one may gain benefit for developing classical optics theory from the research in quantum optics, or vice-versa. We cannot only find some new quantum mechanical unitary operators which correspond to the known optical transformations, deriving a new theorem for calculating quantum tomogram of density operators, but also can reveal some new classical optical transformations. For examples, we find the generalized Fresnel operator (GFO) to correspond to the generalized Fresnel transform (GFT) in classical optics. We derive GFO’s normal product form and its canonical coherent state representation and find that GFO is the loyal representation of symplectic group multiplication rule. We show that GFT is just the transformation matrix element of GFO in the coordinate representation such that two successive GFTs is still a GFT. The ABCD rule of the Gaussian beam propagation is directly demonstrated in the context of quantum optics. Especially, the introduction of quantum mechanical entangled state representations opens up a new area in finding new classical optical transformations. The complex wavelet transform and the condition of mother wavelet are studied in the context of quantum optics too. Throughout our discussions, the coherent state, the entangled state representation of the two-mode squeezing operators and the technique of integration within an ordered product (IWOP) of operators are fully used. All these have confirmed Dirac’s assertion: “...for a quantum dynamic system that has a classical analogue, unitary transformation in the quantum theory is the analogue of contact transformation in the classical theory”.     

Nonlinear quantum dynamics of two BEC modes dispersively coupled by an optical cavity

We derive a quantum master equation for a single mode excitation of a Bose-Einstein condensate by a high-finesse optical cavity. This system is formally analogous to a broad class of opto-mechanical systems comprising vibrating mirrors and resonator modes coupled by radiation pressure. The presented equation accounts for the dissipative part of the dynamics due to the coupling of a driven, lossy optical mode of a resonator. This allows for exploring the quantum limit of opto-mechanical systems in the presence of dissipation in a classically bistable regime. We find that the measurement-induced back-action noise impedes the observation of quantum tunneling and leads to a non-exponential dephasing of coherent matter wave oscillations.     

Switching from positive to negative absorption with electromagnetically induced transparency in circuit quantum electrodynamics

We present a theoretical study of electromagnetically induced transparency(EIT) in a superconducting quantum circuit with a tunable V-shaped energy spectrum derived from two superconducting Josephson charge qubits coupled with each other through a superconducting quantum interference device. Using the density matrix formalism and the steady-state approximation, we obtain the analytical expressions of the first-order matrix element associated with the absorption and dispersion of the probe field for two different V-type schemes. Our results show that, for this superconducting quantum system, it is possible to realize a remarkable phenomenon that dynamic conversion between EIT and EIT with amplification without population inversion. Such a unique optical feature has potential applications in quantum optical devices and quantum information processing.     

Tunneling time based on the quantum diffusion process approach in multichannel and optical potential cases

We analyze the effects of inelastic scattering on the tunneling time theoretically, using generalized Nelson’s quantum mechanics. This generalization enables us to describe quantum system with channel couplings and optical potential in a real time stochastic approach, which seems to give us a new insight into quantum mechanics beyond Copenhagen interpretation